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Friday, May 9, 2014

BEACH HOPPING IN THAILAND

I love Thailand! I have the fondest memory of my time there and the biggest smile on my face every time I think about them. The beaches are truly the definition of paradise and absolutely spectacular! Here are some of my favorites in Phuket and Koh Tao.

PHUKET:

Kamala Beach

Sandwiched between Surin and Patong Beach, Kamala is a hidden gem with all the amenities of a big beach but the tranquility of a small beach. Highly recommended by a friend, it was my first stop in Phuket, and a very good first impression indeed!

Nai Harn Beach

A smaller beach located at the southwest end of Phuket. It is much less developed than the other beaches and is said to be “the beach where the locals vacation”. But I was shocked to find the prices to be comparable, if not higher, than the other beaches in Phuket.

Ao Sane Beach

Now this is the type of place I hoped to find! It is a short 20 minute hike from Nai Harn Beach. Very secluded and not known by many. The snorkeling here is spectacular! No big resorts tower over the beach, only a few small bungalows and a locally owned restaurant. Although I stayed in Nai Harn, I spent most of my days in Ao Sane.

KOH TAO:

Aow Leuk Beach

A secluded beach located on the quiet East side of Koh Tao. It is absolutely gorgeous here. The water is colored in all shades of blue and you get the perfect view of Shark Bay from all vantage points. The beach here is by far the best I’ve seen on the island, with water deep enough that cools you off on a sunny day. The perfect piece of paradise indeed. There is not much on this beach. Accompanied by only two restaurants, Aow Leuk is 40 minutes by foot to the nearest town. Scooter is likely needed if you plan to stay here but do note that the road down to the beach is very steep and not well paved. I ended up having to pay a hefty sum because I left a few scratches on my scooter.

Chalok Beach

Although I stayed in Aow Leuk, I always find myself in Chalok. There are tons of restaurants, accommodations, fun things to do during the day and at night. It has everything you need but much quieter than the bigger beaches such as Sairee and Mae Haad.

Sairee Beach

The biggest beach in Koh Tao and one of the most popular with tourists. Sairee is a long stretch of beautiful beach sprinkled with restaurants and bars. The accommodations here vary from small bungalows to fancy resorts. It is a lively part of town with music playing all day long. The beach here is calm and wide; ideal for kayaking and it’s the perfect place to watch a sunset.

Freedom Beach

Although it is considered a “private beach” for the Freedom Resort, visitors are able to visit because technically, all beaches on the island is public. It was here that I hiked to the top of John-Suwan and it was here that fell in love with Koh Tao.

June Juea Beach

An expected discovery! I visited an underwhelming viewpoint recommended by the guide map, and followed the little beach arrow up the hill and through a small town to June Juea Beach and how fun that was! This beach reminds me of Ao Sane in Phuket: quiet, secluded and ideal for snorkeling.